What Can I Sell on eBay?
In the last post, I gave you a rundown on products to avoid when selling online. This week, I’m going to talk about what you should be selling on eBay.
But…before you start your research, you need to learn about your market.
Why do people choose to shop on eBay over brick and mortar stores? What types of products are they looking for?
Apart from talking to friends and family and thinking about your own reasons for using eBay, the Seller Central area is an excellent first port of call. I particularly recommend that you read the Buyer Behavior Report.
You need to realize that there aren’t just 5 or 6 ‘secret’ products that make thousands. It’s possible to make money from a wide variety of products.
Unique items
The Buyer Report tells us that one of the top reasons people use eBay is to find unique items that are difficult to get elsewhere.
To get ideas for unique items to sell, just browse eBay’s many and varied community groups! What could you provide to these enthusiasts that they may not be able to get locally?
Some examples:
Theatre groups – props, wigs, masks, affordable costume components
Pet lovers – pet clothing, leads, collars, baskets, blankets, food
Mothers with young children – puzzles, toys, musical instruments, clothing
There are piles of niche markets out there that remain largely untapped!
Everyday items
Another huge reason why people buy online is for ease and convenience. This suggests a whole variety of relatively everyday items. For example: towels, sheets, beauty products, clothing, umbrellas, swimsuits, curtains, house fittings, storage containers…I could go on! It might sound mundane, but when you start searching completed listings, you’ll see just how well everyday items sell. The only downside is that you have to keep your pricing below that of the stores in order to be a competitive alternative.
Collectibles
Collectibles have the highest sell-through rate of any category on eBay! It’s often a lot easier to locate a potential collectible market if you have prior experience in an area through a hobby or interest, but experience certainly isn’t a prerequisite. Collectible sellers have made money from items as diverse as marbles, weaponry, jewelry, art and clothing! Sourcing collectibles is necessarily more labor-intensive than other products, but the good news you can command higher prices for each item to reflect this!
Gifts
The gift market is huge – most people have to buy a minimum of 4-5 gifts a year, usually a whole lot more! Gift baskets and packs are particularly popular at the moment – think customization. Sellers who are offering something unique will do very well indeed.
Life events
Life experiences that are common to all of us, such as birth, important birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and death, have a whole pile of related products. People search for these products on eBay to save money and also to find something unique. Sellers make big money from bridal gowns, suits, baby clothing, baby toys, anniversary gifts…even coffins! Once again, customization is becoming increasingly important. Sellers are now offering details such as baby clothes with customized embroidered monograms, tailor-made suits and hand-crafted toys.
Bundles and lots
This is a category that has grown enormously recently. It’s a great way of attracting bargain hunters – grouping items together adds value. Bundles can be created easily: they just require some creative thinking. Bundles and lots are a brilliant way of turning a few low-cost items into a medium to high value product. For example, let’s say you buy a liquidation lot of electric bread knives. You could add value by making up a pack that includes a molded bread tin and a brochure or leaflet with bread recipes. A small increase in cost could easily net you another $7-$10 in profit!
When you start to think about it, products to sell on eBay are everywhere. It’s just a matter of thinking from your buyer’s perspective: whu might they prefer to buy that item off eBay in particular? As long as you have a compelling reason (they can’t get it anywhere else, it’s more convenient, it’s cheaper etc), then you have a product to sell on eBay!
